Today sees the 16th Anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster – a disaster that claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool supporters. Supporters who’d only gone to watch a game of football.
If you are too young to remember the disaster and want to know more, then the links below will allow you to read in detail about what happened.
Six Minutes Past Three is an appropriate time to mark the anniversary of the tragedy. That was the time that the game was stopped. If you can, try and find time today to reflect on what happened, and to be thankful that you are now here and able to read this article.
To all the 96 – You’ll Never Walk Alone. You’ll always be remembered. Rest In Peace.
Contrast – Hillsborough Justice Campaign includes videos and personal accounts. The history of the disaster continues to unfold as the quest for justice continues. This site will help you to understand why justice hasn’t been done – and why it needs to be.
The following extract is taken from Hillsborough disaster an article on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Hillsborough disaster occurred on April 15, 1989, at Hillsborough, a football stadium in Sheffield, England, resulting in the loss of 96 lives.
Liverpool F.C. were involved in their 17th FA Cup Semi-Final, to be played against Nottingham Forest F.C. at Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C..
Football had been plagued by hooliganism for years in many countries but particularly in the United Kingdom. Football hooliganism in the UK often involves pitch invasions and the throwing of a variety of missiles – in response most stadiums placed high chainlink fences between the seats and terraces and the pitch (terraces were cheaper standing areas without seats). However, it was not hooliganism that day, but the fear of it, that led to the death of ninety-six people.
The stadium was divided into two parts in order to keep the opposing fans apart: the Liverpool supporters being assigned to the Leppings Lane End. Kick off was scheduled for 3.00pm and many of the Liverpool supporters were late arriving. By 2.45pm there was a considerable buildup of fans outside the turnstiles at the Leppings Lane End, all eager to enter the stadium before the match started. With a crowd of 5000 fans (est) trying to get through the turnstiles the police decided to open a second set of gates which did not have turnstiles. The resulting inpouring of hundreds (possibly thousands) of fans at the rear of the terraces caused a crush at the front where people were pressed against the fencing. For some time the problem was not noticed and it was not until 3:06pm that the referee stopped the game. By this time a small door in the fencing had been opened and by this route many escaped the crush – others climbed over the fencing.
The pitch quickly started to fill with people sweating and gasping for breath and with the bodies of the dead. The police and ambulance services were overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster and fans helped as best they could, many attempting CPR and some tearing down advertising hoardings to act as makeshift stretchers.
The crush ultimately took the lives of 96 people.
Graphic footage of the disaster was available because the match was being broadcast and this along with the number of fatalities made an extreme impact on the general population.
A permanent tribute to those who lost their lives can be found alongside the Shankly Gates at Anfield. A further tribute was set up in 1999 at Hillsborough.